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HISTORY All Saints Church was first built in Sudbury in the 12th century when from 1150 until the reformation it was appropriated to the Abbey of St Albans. A flint and rubble church, built principally in the perpendicular style (1375 – 1550) the present church was erected between 1350 -1490, with the wide aisle being built in 1460. The chancel pre - dates the rest of the church being built around the early 1300’s in the decorative style.
The north aisle was probably built in 15th century as a chapel for the Waldegrave family and then the Eden family. Thomas Eden became patron of the living at the Dissolution and was Clerk of the Star Chamber in 1551. Although most of the chapel is now taken up with the organ, a painted genealogy of the Eden’s family dating from 1622, though faded, can still be seen. The Burkitt family had a vault in the aisle and they were related to Oliver Cromwell and entertained the poet John Bunyan when he visited Sudbury. |
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The church has a fine cambered tie – beam roof and the nave arcades are unusually decorated with shields and paterae (decorative oval or circular ornaments, resembling shallow dishes) in the mouldings. The pulpit is one of the best examples from the pre - reformation period, and was made in 1490. The good condition was due mainly to it being boarded up for a long period of time so it escaped damage when the church was used as a prison during war with the Dutch in 1660. Uncovered by Henry Ringham in 1850 the plinth, monogram and steps were added to the original structure. The octagonal 15th century font has shields and quatrefoils (a representation of a flower with four petals or a leaf with four leaflets,) in the bowl panels and a deeply traceried stem. On the high Altar is a Stuart Holy Table.
The large mausoleum in the middle of the churchyard is that of the Gainsborough family, merchants of the town. Thomas Gainsborough, the artist, was born in Sudbury though he is not buried in All Saints Church. |
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In the 19th
century extensive work was carried out to All Saint’s Church. The spire
was removed in 1822 and in 1855 the pews were installed as part of the
restoration. The poppy heads found at each end of the pews were the work
of a local craftsman called Thomas Elliston. Near the south door can be
seen carved bells and these pews were probably where
the bell ringers sat during the service. Much of the original stained
glass was destroyed by William Dowsing, the iconoclast; in 1643. However
in 1927 the glass in the west window was completed by Walter Tower, the
successor and cousin of Charles Kemp, Master of Glass. This is one of
the few Suffolk examples of his work.